Five Small Planes Enter Presidential No-Fly Zone, Receive F-16 Orientation Flights

HOUSTON—NORAD dispatched F-16 fighters to intercept five general aviation aircraft that entered temporary restricted airspace over Houston during President Donald Trump’s visit, safely escorting each pilot out with the sort of personalized navigation service unavailable on civilian flight-planning apps.

The four-hour restriction Friday affected airspace near Ellington, Hobby and La Porte airports while Trump attended events at NASA’s Johnson Space Center after a political fundraiser. The Federal Aviation Administration issues such restrictions around presidential travel and publishes them through notices that pilots are required to check before departure.

All five aircraft were safely escorted away. NORAD did not identify the pilots or explain how five separate flights reached the same restricted conclusion, but called the violations a signal that general aviation must drive the number down immediately.

The command reminded intercepted pilots to tune to emergency frequency 121.5 or 243.0 and reverse course until receiving further instructions. That procedure gives anyone who misses the written notice a second version delivered by a supersonic aircraft appearing beside the cockpit.

NORAD said every aviator has a role in safeguarding shared airspace. On Friday, five civilians handled the detection exercise while the Air Force provided corrections, allowing national readiness to improve one unplanned orientation flight at a time.